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Patented lune l3, I899.

L L E W 0 B C 0 L 6 7 6 2 6 0 N FEEDING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 15, 189B.) 7

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No'. 626,676. Patented June [3, I899.

L. C. vCRQWELL.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 15, 1898.)

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No. 626,676. 6 Patented 1m Q6, I899.

c. cnowup. FEEDING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 15, 1898.) :No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

EH kw UNITED STATES- PATENT -OFFICE.

LUTHER C. CROWELL, OF NEW Y ORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, THEODORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES W. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,676, dated June 13, 1899.

Application filed July 15,1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. CRowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanism.

In a companion application, serially numbered 682,319 and filed June 2, 1898, are described certain improvements in feeding mechanisms primarily adapted for use in connection with wrapping machinery for wrapping papers, books, pamphlets, magazines, and other similar articles, but also applicable for feeding to various otherkinds of machines.

The subject-matter of this application'relate's to certain specific modifications of the subject-matter described and broadly claimed in the application above referred to.

The invention consists in certain constructions, parts, improvements, and combinations to be hereinafter fully described, and more particularlypointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which are. hereby constituted a part of this'ap'plication, Figure 1 is a side view. of a feeding mechanism embodying the invention, the frame and certain of the operating parts being shown in dotted lines and certain parts being also shown in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the carriage and some of its connected parts. Fig. 3 is an end view, certain parts being shown in section. Fig. disaplan view, certain parts being shown in section. Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are detail views, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the operation of the devices for removing the sheet, paper, or other article from the stack or pile. Fig. 9 is a detail view showingIthe rack-bar by which a rotary movement is given to the detaching device.

The frame of the machine is indicated at A. The frame is formed to provide ways A,upon' which reciprocates a carriage C, which is formed by suitable side bars 0* and cross-bars C and carries two sets of longitudinal bars Serial No. 686,004. (No model.)

The carriage C,before referred to,reciprocates beneath this pile-retaining frame.

The carriage C is provided with a rack C which engages with a toothed segment .D, mounted upon a rock-arm D, suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. This rockarm is connected by a rod E to a crank-stud F on a crank-disk F, mounted on a shaft F which is also suitably j ournaled in the frame. The shaft F is provided with a gear-wheel F which meshes with a gear-wheel G on the main shaft G. The main shaft is rotated by any. suitable source of power, and when so rotated it will be seen that the carriage will be reciprocated beneath the pile-retaining frame before described by means of the devices just described. I

In the carriage C is journaled a shaft H. This shaft l-I carries-a series of grooved pulleys H and is provided on one of its ends with a gear-wheel H which engages a rack H (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) mounted on the pile-retaining frame, before described. To each of the grooved pulleys H is connected one of'a series of tapes or hands I, the other end of these tapes or bands being, connected to a bar K, which is mounted on the standards B of the pile-retaining'frame, the .ar-'

rangement being such that the tapes pass beneath the pile-retaining frame and between it and the bars C C of the carriage, and therefore act to support the pile of articles contained in the pile-retaining frame. It is obvious that as the carriage reciprocates the shaft Hwill be revolved byreason of the engagement of the gear H with the rack H and'the tapes or bands I will be wound on and unwound from the grooved pulleys, before referred to, and-that when they are unpin on the disk M mounted on the shaft H,

shown asthree in number; but it is of course obvious that as many of these pulleys may be wound they will, as stated above, serve as the support for thepile of papers, pamphlets, books, or other similar articles.

Passing through the grooved pulleys H is a shaft L, carrying bent hooks L. This shaft carries at one end a disk M which is provided with a stop-plate M, having a pair of stops M M (see dotted lines in Fig. 5,) which engage with a suitably-mounted stop-pin M The stop-plate M is further provided with a pin M to which is connected a spring M the other end of the spring being connected to a before referred to. The spring M is so arranged that when the shaft L is rocked by the means hereinafter to be described and the pin M passes the center in either direction the spring willassist in the rocking-movement and hold the shaft reliably in position with one-of the stops M M against the stoppin M The opposite end of' the shaft L is provided-with a collar N, from which projects a pair of arms N N These arms are staggered or offset, as shown, and engage with suitable projections O O, the projection 0 being mounted in the frame A of the machine and the projection 0' being mounted on the traveling carriage. As the carriage is recip- -rocated and the shaft H audits connected.

parts rotated, as hereiubefore described, the

arms N N will strike the projections O O, before referred to, and the shaft L will be mounted a drum R. WVithin the drum andsurrounding the bar is a spring S, one end of which is connected-to the bar P and the other end of which is connected to the drum RQ Thedrum R is preferably constructed to form a series of broad-faced pulleys R, herein provided as is deemed necessary or desirable. Upon these pulleys are wound a series of broad tapesor supporting-bands I one end of each of these bands being connected to each of the pulleys R, before described, and

the other end being connected to'a stationary bar K which is mounted in the frame. It

is obvious that as the carriage is reciprocated Y in one direction the broad supporting bands. or tapes will be first unwound from the pul-i leys R against the tension of the spring and then rewound thereon by the act-ion of they spring as the carriage returns.

Extending across the carriage and monuted therein is a vbar T, this bar being located between the grooved pulleys I-Iand the broad pulleys R. This bar T is provided with a se-' ries of bridge'pieces T, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Beneath the path of the reciprocating-carriage is a seriesof tapes U. mounted upon suitable pulleys U U one set of which may be-driven'in any-suitable or desired manner.

also act to support the pile.

These tapes arei A second set of tapes U is with thetapes U. U indicatesany ordinary belt-tightening mechanism.

The construction being as above described, the operation'is as follows; Referring to Fig.

1, it will be understood that the carriage has completed its movement toward the left of the observer and is about to reciprocate to the right, thereby removing a sheet from the pile in the pile-retaining frame. Immediately before thecarriage completes its movement to the left the arm N has been caused by the rotation of the shaft H, under the influence of the gear H and the rack H to strike the projection O, which is mounted in the carriage. This has rocked the shaft L and caused the bent retaining-pins L, the ends of which are bent toward the pile in the retaining-frame, to take over the edge of the lowest paper or other article in the retaining-frame. The sheet is thereby held at its edge between the pins and the circumference-of the grooved pulleys H. As the carriage starts upon its return movement the sheet, being held at its edge, as beforestated, is bent down and carried around by the pulleys H, which are being rotated by reason of the engagement of the gear H with the rack H At the same time the supporting-tapes I begin to be wound up on the grooved pulleys, and therefore begin to pass out from under the pile. As the carriage continues its movement to the right the tapes I areprogressively withdrawn from under the pile, and at the same time the bridge and guidingpieces T come under the forward edge of the pile and temporarily support it. The further movement of the carriage causes the supporting-bands 1 which have begun to be unwound from the drum R, to come into position where they When the-carriage has reachedthe proper point in its reciprocation and the shaft has reached the proper point in its rotation, the arm N will be brought in contact with the-projection O,

The shaft L will then :be rocked in the direction opposite to that in mounted on the frame.

which it was rocked before, and the benthooks L will be withdrawn from the top of the sheet. The sheet will now, however, continue to be fed by the frictional action of the grooved pulleys, before referred to, and as soon as its head reaches the upperstretchof the tapes U it will be carried ahead by these tapes, the

several partsassuming the position indicated in Fig- 2. When the carriage. has completed its movement-t0 the right, at which time the pile in the rotary frame will be wholly supported by the .bands I and the bridge-pieces T, the sheet will have been entirely detached from the pile and will befed ahead by the tapes against the stops of the drop-roll mechanism, before referred to. Atthe proper time these stops are withdrawn and the sheet will pass to the tapes U and be by them delivered to the Wrapping-machine or any other suitable machine. The carriage having finished its reciprocation to the right then starts upon its return. The supporting-bands I will now be rewound upon the drums R, thus ceasing to act to support the pile of sheets, and the supportingbands or tapes I will be unwound from the grooved pulleys H and will again support the pile. Just as the carriage is about to complete its movement to the left the rocking of the shaft L is effected in the manner before referred to, and at the instant of the completion of the movement of the carriage in this direction the bent hooks have laid hold ofthe edge of the next sheet preparatory to causing its removal in the manner hereinbefore described.

WVhile the apparatus described is an effective means for removing sheets from the bottom of a stack or pile, it is obvious that it is not confined to such use. It might, with obvious changes, be used to feed sheets from the top of a pile.

In general, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its scope or application to the specific details of construction described in the foregoing specification. Parts of the mechanism embodying the invention may be used independently of other parts, and many changes may be made therein and other constructions substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

That is claimedis- I 1. In afeeding mechanism, the combination with a pile-retaining device, of a sheet-detaching device reciprocating with respect to the pile, flexible devices for acting on the pile 'on each side of the sheet-detaching device,

said flexible devices being progressively withdrawn from the front of the detaching device and progressively advanced behind it, subs'tantially as described. l

' 2. Inafeeding mechanism,thecombination with a pile -retaining device, of a sheet-detaching device, means for giving the sheetdetaching device both rotary and reciprocating movements and flexible devices for acting on each side of the sheet-detaching device, said devices being progressively Withdrawn from in front of and progressively advanced behind the sheet-detaching device, substantially as described.

In a feeding mechanism,ihe combination with a pileretaining device, of a carriage reciprocating with respect to the pile-retaining device, a rotating sheet-detaching device carried by the carriage, flexible devices for acting on the pile also carried by the carriage and located on each side of the sheet-detaching device and means for controlling the action of said flexible devices whereby as the detaching device acts to withdraw the sheet the devices for acting on the pile will be respectively advanced behind the pile and withdrawn from in front of it, substantially as described.

4. Thecombination with a pile-retaining device, of flexible supporting devices located beneath the pile-retaining device and alternately acting to support the pile, and'means for removing a sheet from the under side of the pile, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a pile-retaining device, of a pair of flexible pilevsupports located beneath the pile-retaining device and I alternately acting to support the pile, and rotary means for removing a sheet from the pile, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a pile-retaining device, of a carriage reciprocating beneath the pile-retaining device, rotating sheet-detaching means mounted in the carriage, flexible pile-supporting devices on each side of the sheet-detaching means, and means whereby as the carriage reciprocates each of the pilesupporting devices is alternately caused to support the pile and be Withdrawn therefrom, substantially as described.

7. The combination with asuitable frame, of a carriage reciprocating therein, winding devices mounted in the carriage and two sets of tapes or bands, one end of ,each set being connected to the winding devices and the other end being connected to the frame, whereby 'as the carriage reciprocates each set of devices Will alternately be wound on and unwound from. the winding devices, substantially as described.

8-. In afeeding mechanismgthe combination with a suitable frame, of a pile-retaining de- Y vice mounted thereon, a carriage reciprocating therein, a sheet-detaching device mounted in the carriage,windin g devices also mounted in the carriage on each side of the sheet-detaching device, and two sets of tapes or bands, one end of each set being connected to the winding devices and the other end being connected to the frame of the machine, substantially as described.

9. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a suitable frame, of a pile-retaining device mounted thereon, a carriage reciprocat-.

ing therein, a rotary sheet-detaching device mounted in the carriage, winding devices also mounted in the carriage on each side of the rotary sheet-detaching device, and two sets of tapes or bands, one end of each set being connected to the winding devices and the other end being connected to the frame of the machine, substantially as described.

' 10. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a suitable frame, of a pile-retaining device mounted thereon,a carriage reciprocatin g therein, a sheet detaching. device mounted on the carriage,winding devices also mounted on the carriage, two sets of tapes orbands, one end of each set being connected to each of the winding devices and the other being.

suitably connected to the frameof the mawinding devices, and a spring for controlling the operation of the other setof Winding de-} is connected to the grooved pulleys, the other end being connected to the frame of the machine whereby,as the carriage is reciprocated, 2 the tapes will be Wound and unwound, and means progressively advanced beneath the 5 pile .to support it as the tapes are wound onthe pulleys, substantially as described.

12. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a frame, of .a pile-retaining devicesupported thereon, a carriage reciprocating therein, a shaft supported in the carriage,;

means for rotating the shaft, grooved pulleys 5 mounted on the shaft, asecond shaft carrying bent hooks and cooperating with the grooved pulleys, a set of tapes or hands, one end of which .isconnected to the groovedpulleys and the other endof which is connected to the frame,-a second set of tapes, a winding 0 device, to which one end of the second set of tapes is connected, the other end being connected to the frame, and means for operating the shaft which carries the bent hooks to cause it to lay hold of and release the sheets, 3 3 substantially as described.

13. In a feeding mechanism, the combina-' tion with a pile-retaining device, of a carriage, a rotary sheet-detaching device carried by the carriage, flexible supporting devices located 40 on each side of the sheet-detaching device and caused by the rotation of the carriage to alternately support the pile and suitably-mounted bridge-pieces between the flexible pile-supporting devices, substantially as described.

45 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUTHER CVOROWELL.

\Vitnesses: JAMES Q. RICE, T. F. KEHOE. 

